Riley Might Use Shaq-Zo Combo

Discussion in 'Miami Heat' started by Shapecity, Mar 14, 2006.

  1. Shapecity

    Shapecity S2/JBB Teamster Staff Member Administrator

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    <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">MIAMI ? Shaquille O'Neal didn't talk with reporters Monday for the second consecutive day, yet he remained the topic of the day.

    There were questions about his 4 1/2 -minute appearance alongside Alonzo Mourning on Sunday in the Heat's 98-92 victory over Cleveland, which marked the season debut of the centers playing together.

    There were questions about O'Neal playing only 2 1/2 minutes in the fourth quarter.

    And there were questions about the possibility of O'Neal being on the bench in the future during much of the fourth quarter.

    The last scenario, Riley said, is highly unlikely.

    "He's supposed to be on the court, but I had a hard time taking anybody off the court at that time because we were down and then we went ahead by eight," Riley said of the lineup that used Mourning, guards Dwyane Wade, Gary Payton and Derek Anderson and forward Antoine Walker.

    "As a coach, you want to ride that lineup as long as you can and I did. That was just sort of a game-type situation."

    Wade said he was surprised O'Neal wasn't on the court for such long stretches in the fourth quarter.

    "That's once in a lifetime right there," Wade said. "There's not many times Shaq has been on the bench in the fourth quarter."

    Mourning was careful to emphasize that he didn't replace O'Neal but simply played his backup role.

    "I tried to do the best I could when I was out there," Mourning said. "It wasn't about giving Shaq a break or whatever. My number was called and I had to go out there and do my job. We're out there for each other.

    "The Big Fella, we've been on his shoulders the whole year. We expect him to help us get to where we want to go and that's to the Finals. But we know he can't do it by himself."</div>

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